US entertainment, of any sort, almost always has to have an additional level of "fantasy" - everyone is rich, good looking and white, apart from the token characters. Unless the "show" is a "Black show" in which case everyone is black, apart from the token white characters. Do they have "Asian shows" yet? It's only a matter of time. You also a not allowed to have mixed race relationships in US entertainment, as that is just unthinkable.

There is a new-ish sitcom called The Mindy Project which I have seen advertised, the main character is played by an actress of South Indian descent. Other than that it looks a lot like New Girl to me (oh my GOLLY GOSH HECK how annoying is that programme). So... progress I suppose? I saw an article called something like 'Things You Never Knew About Celebrities' that 'revealed' here birth name wasn't Mindy Kaling but rather the magnificient Vera Mindy Chokalingam (yes I had to look it up). Tamil woman has Tamil name - whoda thunk it??

According to her Wikipedia page her parents deliberately chose an American name and so she's named after Mork and Mindy, hahaha.

I think I've seen that advertised, is it just her who's "Indian"? I assume so, a whole cast of Indians would have the Tanks phoning the FBI.

Sat Aug 10, 2013 5:01 pm

Shallowthing

Storm Trooper

Joined: Thu Apr 15, 2010 7:44 pmPosts: 15990

Re: Sitcoms/Other TV Comedy

I vaguely remember quite enjoying Frasier. Niles usually stole the show when I saw it, though.

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Sat Aug 10, 2013 7:18 pm

Painkiller

Darth Fucking Vader

Joined: Thu Apr 15, 2010 10:25 amPosts: 28491

Re: Sitcoms/Other TV Comedy

What an odd concept to say that he "stole the show". His lines were written by the same people - just because the show's called Frasier doesn't mean that he's supposed to be the one you laugh at.

Sat Aug 10, 2013 7:21 pm

andrew

Star Trooper

Joined: Thu Apr 15, 2010 3:47 pmPosts: 3175Location: wigan

Re: Sitcoms/Other TV Comedy

The Golden Fang wrote:

US entertainment, of any sort, almost always has to have an additional level of "fantasy" - everyone is rich, good looking and white, apart from the token characters. Unless the "show" is a "Black show" in which case everyone is black, apart from the token white characters. Do they have "Asian shows" yet? It's only a matter of time. You also a not allowed to have mixed race relationships in US entertainment, as that is just unthinkable.

The Wire is a notable exception to these all pervading norms. I'm surprised at the lack of mixed race relationships in London, they do exist but they are far less common than I'd imagined before moving here. Americans that I've met have told they are far more common here than in the US, which says an awful lot.

and yet we invented middle class sitcoms ,

Sat Aug 10, 2013 7:40 pm

andrew

Star Trooper

Joined: Thu Apr 15, 2010 3:47 pmPosts: 3175Location: wigan

Re: Sitcoms/Other TV Comedy

American Office>The office .

Sat Aug 10, 2013 7:41 pm

The Golden Fang

Space Ranger

Joined: Mon Jul 29, 2013 12:55 pmPosts: 1500

Re: Sitcoms/Other TV Comedy

andrew wrote:

American Office>The office .

Fuck you.

Sat Aug 10, 2013 8:07 pm

Painkiller

Darth Fucking Vader

Joined: Thu Apr 15, 2010 10:25 amPosts: 28491

Re: Sitcoms/Other TV Comedy

I have not yet mentioned Venture Brothers, even though it is completely brilliant.

Venture Brothers.

There.

Sat Aug 10, 2013 8:10 pm

The Golden Fang

Space Ranger

Joined: Mon Jul 29, 2013 12:55 pmPosts: 1500

Re: Sitcoms/Other TV Comedy

JCC wrote:

The Golden Fang wrote:

Ed Blackadder wrote:

Even more so in How I MEt Your Mother, which sees another professor (at the age of 30-odd), a TV presenter, two lawyers and a teacher - everyone in New York leads such fabulous lives!

In the US all uni lecturers are "professors", unlike the UK, where you have rise up the scale. You've just highlighted another thing I hate about US sitcoms, the characters are, generally, all wealthy and successful. I'm aware that in the US they may have to pander to the "American Dream" bullshit and that Yanks like to see that sort of thing in their entertainment, it's just that it's money and success are often an obstacle to comedy than anything. There's a lot more humour in desperation or struggle, not to mention dramatic tension and pathos than there is in success.

All in the Family?

I haven't seen it, if I ever do, I will remain unconvinced.

Sat Aug 10, 2013 8:11 pm

andrew

Star Trooper

Joined: Thu Apr 15, 2010 3:47 pmPosts: 3175Location: wigan

Re: Sitcoms/Other TV Comedy

The Golden Fang wrote:

andrew wrote:

American Office>The office .

Fuck you.

NO. Fuck you .

Sat Aug 10, 2013 8:49 pm

Forgotpassword

Space Ranger

Joined: Tue Dec 18, 2012 5:39 pmPosts: 1419

Re: Sitcoms/Other TV Comedy

The Golden Fang wrote:

I'm surprised at the lack of mixed race relationships in London, they do exist but they are far less common than I'd imagined before moving here. Americans that I've met have told they are far more common here than in the US, which says an awful lot.

Rare? I see mixed race people all the time in England, regardless of where you go.

Sat Aug 10, 2013 9:14 pm

Shallowthing

Storm Trooper

Joined: Thu Apr 15, 2010 7:44 pmPosts: 15990

Re: Sitcoms/Other TV Comedy

Fucking loads of them around here. The vast majority of them seem to be white women with black men - it's almost never the other way round.

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Sat Aug 10, 2013 10:12 pm

Dr Yail Bloor

Climate Control

Joined: Wed Mar 06, 2013 7:54 pmPosts: 6259

Re: Sitcoms/Other TV Comedy

i've noticed a lot of black men like big fat white women, this confuses me somewhat.

I'm surprised at the lack of mixed race relationships in London, they do exist but they are far less common than I'd imagined before moving here. Americans that I've met have told they are far more common here than in the US, which says an awful lot.

Rare? I see mixed race people all the time in England, regardless of where you go.

I see mixed race people every time I go anywhere in London, children especially. Mixed race couples, i.e. where the people are two different races, whether either is mixed race or not, I virtually never see. People are clearly mixing enough to procreate, whether they are staying together is another matter.

When I do see mixed race couples it's usually Asian and White, with either gender being either race or, as Shal mentioned white women with black me, almost never the other way around. I frequently see young white women, often East European with children whose father's are clearly black.

I am going to Dorset and Devon next weekend, I imagine I'll see fuck all mixed race people in that part of England.

Sun Aug 11, 2013 12:17 pm

Painkiller

Darth Fucking Vader

Joined: Thu Apr 15, 2010 10:25 amPosts: 28491

Re: Sitcoms/Other TV Comedy

The Golden Fang wrote:

When I do see mixed race couples it's usually Asian and White, with either gender being either race or, as Shal mentioned white women with black me.

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